The D-corps is not a real problem - when healthy. Their struggles lately, IMHO, are attributed to the added minutes to all with Edler out. Even out their minutes and I think they will be better than before Edler went out, if ony because they are getting better at playing Torts' system.

As for right-hand/left-hand, Garrison has played on the right and not looked too bad and I think Stanton has done the same on occasion. Could the team use another right-hander? Of course, but I don't think it's quite so dire.

Trading Tanev? You may as well fire Tortorella in the process. The only way he goes is if there's a huge return coming the other way. He's arguably the most valuable dman on the squad not named Hamhuis. The better option would be for Gillis to do whatever he can to massage Edler out of his NTC.

Even so, Gillis would have to get a Dman of some sort coming back if only to not leave the blueline in the same situation they were when Edler was injured. Add in the possibility of Edler's presence on the point perhaps making a difference on the PP, you wonder if Gillis wouldn't be adopting more risk than many of us are admitting should he trade the guy.

I don't think the blueline needs much fixing beyond better management of their minutes over the long haul. If anything, it's a position of depth when it comes to what assets Gillis may have to trade - but perhaps not as deep as some had at first thought.

The ability to withstand a bruising forecheck without getting injured in a 7 game series.

We have either been extremely lucky with Tanev or he's just durable as fuck but he's taken some massive hits over the last few years and has not been injured. Tanev will always be a tall lanky guy that possesses a very high defensive IQ.

Asshole factor

The only asshole on our blue line is Bieksa and B really isn't all that an effective asshole as he's too light.

The saving grace is by the looks of the comments, it looks like B concussed Greene with his ground up punches.

The asshole factor is mitigated by having a good powerplay. As shown in the 2010/11 post-season, hit the Nucks enough times the powerplay (if there is one which there isn't right now) goes away.

When teams start scrumming up, all our size is up front and that's pretty much Kassian and Sestito. Our D-men are lightweights and not all that particularly offensive. We're mobile but that mobility goes away once we're hit enough times.

There's no way Tanev is going anywhere (Torts). Hamhuis is our best all-around blueliner, Garrison just got signed, As much as everyone wants to trade Edler, Edler brings offense and that is something we sorely need right now. So the players that are left are: Stanton, Bieksa and Weber.

Lancer wrote:The D-corps is not a real problem - when healthy. Their struggles lately, IMHO, are attributed to the added minutes to all with Edler out. Even out their minutes and I think they will be better than before Edler went out, if ony because they are getting better at playing Torts' system.

As for right-hand/left-hand, Garrison has played on the right and not looked too bad and I think Stanton has done the same on occasion. Could the team use another right-hander? Of course, but I don't think it's quite so dire.

Trading Tanev? You may as well fire Tortorella in the process. The only way he goes is if there's a huge return coming the other way. He's arguably the most valuable dman on the squad not named Hamhuis. The better option would be for Gillis to do whatever he can to massage Edler out of his NTC.

Even so, Gillis would have to get a Dman of some sort coming back if only to not leave the blueline in the same situation they were when Edler was injured. Add in the possibility of Edler's presence on the point perhaps making a difference on the PP, you wonder if Gillis wouldn't be adopting more risk than many of us are admitting should he trade the guy.

I don't think the blueline needs much fixing beyond better management of their minutes over the long haul. If anything, it's a position of depth when it comes to what assets Gillis may have to trade - but perhaps not as deep as some had at first thought.

Its not thee problem, which is lacking scoring talent beyond the Sedins whom are our only consistent scorers, but the defense is lacking chemistry and natural left/right side dmen, plus we really need a Ehrhoff replacement.

Kinda why I was hoping Gillis would add the likes of Bryan Allen when he was a UFA.

I know Nonis had to give to get, but I wish Allen had never left the organization.

Yeah, I really wanted Allen back as well. I heard he was interested in coming here too, but not sure if Gillis made an offer or maybe he had too much $ tied up in the blueline already. Allen would of beefed up our blueline for sure and give us a different and much need component back there.

Wasn't Garrison supposed to fix our defense? The amount of money Gillis threw at him one would think so. I guess being a likeable local boy he gets the walkover with you guys. Tanev is a better d-man than Garrison, definitely moves a whole lot better

Anyhow, as Vic pointed out, had Gillis drafted Karlsson instead of CoHo, this thread wouldn't exist. This team misses the offense from the back end that Erhoff once provided. A Don Cherry meathead who can fight aint gonna amount to a hill of beans for us

"I just want to say one word to you. Just one word. Are you listening? - Plastics." - The Graduate